Canada and EU sign historic free trade agreement amid protests

World Today

Belgium Europe Canada TradeCanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, front center, signs the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, left, and European Council President Donald Tusk, right, during an EU-Canada summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016. (AP Photo/Thierry Monasse, Pool)

After weeks of uncertainty, the European Union and Canada have signed a free-trade agreement.

Canada’s Prime Minster Justin Trudeau arrived in Brussels ahead of the Summit to sign the Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

This comes after Belgium authorities broke a weeks-long deadlock.

CCTV’s Mariam Zaidi is Brussels with more.

The agreement has suffered from delays and near derailment.

Even on the morning when Canada and the European Union were due to formally sign CETA, another minor setback arised: the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was running late.

As EU leaders await the Canadian Prime Minister, protesters have gathered ahead of the summit. They say they don’t want CETA.

Despite what was happening outside, inside as leaders arrived, the mood was buoyant. CETA was finally roaring to the finish line.

CETA’s provisional implementation is expected to begin early next year, while its full force awaits final clearance by national and regional parliaments across Europe.